Free Service Helps Patients Stay At Home

A Bradford service which helps vulnerable patients on their return home from hospital has helped more than a thousand referrals in just two years – also helping reduce re-admissions.

Home from Hospital (HfH), based at Carers’ Resource in Shipley, plays an important role in supporting both health and social care needs for patients in Airedale, Wharfedale and Bradford.

Shelley Marshall, HfH Manager, said:

“Nurses, therapists and social workers are key to identifying patients who may be at risk of readmission, or who may be anxious about returning home.

“Often they’re people who don’t qualify for social care but do have additional needs which could affect their health, wellbeing or ability to remain independent.

“Our friendly team of staff and volunteers offers a wide variety of assistance including practical and emotional support, confidence building, setting up telephone shopping, help to access benefits, assisting with health appointments, as well as discussing longer-term needs such as befriending and getting out and about again.

“We also liaise with pharmacists about a client’s medication and help people apply for a Blue Badge, a Safe and Sound pendant and the Access Bus.”

Patients and their carers have told the team that transition back home has been much easier due to this support and they were able to find out about lots of other services which could also help.

about lots of other services which could also help.

“Going home after a stay in hospital can have a big affect on people’s wellbeing and their confidence, and we find that our short-term support – even if it’s a visit to check on how they’re doing and some encouragement to take up activities – can have a huge impact on helping people recover, stay well and stay out of hospital,” said Mrs Marshall.

One recently said the coordinator “listened to all my troubles….had patience ….and put me back on track”. Another said “I have been highly satisfied, first class service”.

Mrs Marshall said:

“Our straightforward and inexpensive support has undoubtedly been shown to reduce the number of unnecessary, distressing and costly admissions as well as patients reporting they feel less anxious and more able to cope.”

For HfH clients, the average re-admissions rate within 30 days of discharge (per quarter from April 2014 to April 2015) was 3.5 per cent, compared to the national average of eight per cent costing the NHS an estimated £2.2billion a year, according to the Nuffield Trust.

For more information contact the Home from Hospital team on (01274) 531377.